Newsletter Newsletter of the Broseley Local History Society Incorporating the Wilkinson Society

November 2010

MEETINGS PROGRAMME Meetings of the Broseley Local History Society 1 Dec Christmas Dinner are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 5 Jan More Broseley Memories with Joan 7.30 pm at the Broseley Social Club, High Street, Griffiths unless otherwise announced. Car parking is 2 Feb Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth by Boat available at the back of the Club. by Ron Miles 2 Mar Annual Wilkinson Lecture Members are requested to be seated by 7.30 pm to Our Wilkinson Heritage by Vin Callcut allow speakers a prompt start. 6 Apr Shropshire’s Iron Age by Shelagh Lewis Visitors are welcome but are asked to give a 4 May Who do I think I am? Glyn Bowen donation towards Society funds. traces his family roots back to Broseley 1 Jun Rocks and History of Loamhole Dingle, a guided walk with Mike and Chris CONTENTS Rayner Programme page 1 Further details from Neil Clarke 01952 504135. New Members page 1 Christmas Dinner page 1 NEW MEMBERS Previous Meetings The Society would like to welcome the following new members: Shropshire Writers page 2 Annual General Meeting page 4 Sheila Black, Telford Neil Cartman, Broseley New Presidents Melinda Evans, Broseley Harold Grice page 4 Vivien Evans, Broseley Norah Lane page 5 Wendy Tilley, Coalbrookdale New Committee Member Michael and Sandra Wallage, Broseley Janet Doody page 6 CHRISTMAS DINNER Broseley’s Skeletons Wednesday 1 December Unearthed page 6 The Lion, High Street In Memoriam page 7 7.30 for 7.45 pm £17.95 per person Severn Gorge The Society’s Christmas dinner is once again Countryside Trust page 7 being held at The Lion in the High Street. Make What’s On? page 8 sure to book your place by not later than Friday Mailbox page 8 26 November by completing the form on p15 and returning it with your payment to Janet Robinson, Christmas Dinner 26 Coalport Road, Broseley TF12 5AZ. booking form page 15 Cheques should be made payable to the Broseley Local History Society.

1 PREVIOUS MEETINGS Just as well known is William Langland who, it is Shropshire Writers thought, was born at Cleobury Mortimer in the mid In September Gordon Dickins, of Shropshire 1300s. His Vision Concerning Piers the Plowman Library Service, gave members of the Society a is considered amongst mediaeval literature to be talk on Shropshire writers. Gordon is currently second only in importance to Chaucer’s chairman of the Mary Webb Society and author of Canterbury Tales. the book An Illustrated Literary Guide to Some members may already be familiar with the Shropshire. A keen photographer his talk was house in St Leonard’s Close, Bridgnorth, in which illustrated with photographs of places connected to Richard Baxter lived for a time. After a chequered the writers about whom he spoke. career Baxter was ordained as a deacon in One of these was Mary Webb. Born in 1881, Worcester but moved to Bridgnorth in 1640. He Webb moved near to Much Wenlock when she was later dedicated the second part of The Saint’s just a year old and it was whilst living there that Everlasting Rest to the people of that town. A she developed her love of the Shropshire supporter of Cromwell’s Parliamentary army, after countryside, which was later to be reflected so the Restoration he was imprisoned by the infamous evocatively in her novels. With only a short Judge Jeffreys for libelling the church. He is now break, she spent most of her life in Shropshire, considered one of the founding fathers of the frequently using local towns and areas as semi Nonconformist movement. fictitious settings for her novels. An example of Another Bridgnorth resident was Thomas Percy this is her first novel, The Golden Arrow, in which who was born in what is now known as Bishop the Stiperstones feature so prominently. Probably Percy’s House at the bottom of the Cartway. After her best and most well known work is the novel graduating from Oxford he took holy orders and Precious Bane for which she was awarded the began his literary career with translations from prestigious Femina Vie Heureuse prize. Sadly she Chinese and Icelandic. In 1765 he published did not achieve public acclaim in her lifetime. Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, an important Another famous author was A E Housman. collection of poetry which included material from Although not native to Shropshire – he was born in an ancient manuscript rescued from a friend’s Fockbury in neighbouring Worcestershire – he house in Shropshire. His dedication of the book to appears to have fallen in love with the county from the Duchess of Northumberland (herself a Percy) a distance, his “blue remembered hills” almost earned him entry into royal circles and he was later certainly being the view from near his home. appointed chaplain to King George III. Although he failed to graduate from Oxford, he Francis Moore of Almanack fame was yet another later became a respected academic and in 1892 was celebrity who came from Bridgnorth. A self taught appointed Professor of Latin at University College physician and astronomer he was born in 1657, London. The romanticism of his first collection of reputedly in one of poems, A Shropshire Lad, was in complete the cave dwellings contrast to his previous writings which had mainly near the St Mary’s been scholarly articles on the classics. What is Steps. He served also interesting is that some at the court of of the poems were written Charles II and his before Housman ever visited original Almanack Shropshire, which may was published as a account for such anomalies means to help sell as his steeple on Hughley his own brand of church. Bishop Percy’s The Mary Webb memorial plaque can House, Cartway, be seen in Church Walk, Much Wenlock Bridgnorth

2 health pills, although his later editions included Another well known writer was Hesba Stretton, such things as astrological observations as well as born Sarah Smith in Wellington. Her most weather predictions. Old Moore’s Almanack is successful book was Jessica’s First Prayer, still published today and should not be confused published in 1867, which sold more than one and with Old Moore’s Almanac (without the k) which a half million copies and was translated into many is an Irish publication from about the same time. languages. Aware of the sometimes appalling conditions in which working class children in John Fletcher has a place in local history as the Victorian England lived, she worked to alleviate minister at Madeley church from 1760-1785. child abuse and poverty and was a founder of the Although a contemporary of John Wesley, with NSPCC. whose beliefs he empathised and with whom he often preached, he remained within the Anglican A more modern day writer was Edith Pargeter church, devoting the rest of his life to working who, as Ellis Peters, wrote the highly popular among the people of Madeley. His theological Brother Cadfael mediaeval mysteries. Born in writings date from 1770 and his Checks to Horsehay, just up the road from Ironbridge, she Antinomianism was the first writing in support of went to school at the old Coalbrookdale High Wesleyan theology published by someone other School. She joined the Women’s Royal Naval than John or Charles Wesley. After his death his Service during WWII and received a BEM for her wife Mary carried on his work for another thirty work whilst there. She later became fascinated by years. Fletcher is buried along with his wife in Czechoslovakia and its language and culture and Madeley churchyard, where his cast iron tomb can published award winning translations of Czech still be seen. poetry and prose. After her death in 1995 a glass window in Shrewsbury Abbey was dedicated to While not born in Shropshire, Charles Dickens her memory. certainly visited the county and while there gained ideas for some of his novels. He undoubtedly used Another recent local author was P G Wodehouse Tong church as the place from which Little Nell of who when young spent his summer holidays at The Old Curiosity Shop sought escape and indeed, Stableford, near Bridgnorth. He is best known for although purely a fictional character, a plaque his Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and there marking her supposed grave can be seen in Tong has been much debate about the actual setting of churchyard. He also visited Newport where he Blandings Castle within Shropshire. heard the sad story of Elizabeth Parker of Among other writers mentioned by Gordon Chetwynd House who had been jilted on her Dickins were such people as John Osborne, who wedding day. The fact that she became a recluse, moved to Clunton with his fifth wife Jill, and from even keeping her wedding cake as a poignant reminder, must surely have provided Dickens with John Osborne’s last the plot for Great Expectations. home The Hurst, Clunton, now the John Osborne Arvon This memorial to Charles The Fletcher family tomb Centre for creative Dickens’ Little Nell can be can be found in Madeley writing seen in Tong churchyard churchyard hotograph of courtesy Gordon Dickins P

3 where he delighted in playing the role of appointed presidents for a two year period and this Shropshire squire; Henry James, whose English was endorsed by the meeting. Hours includes a chapter on Shropshire; Reginald She then stated that she would like to step down as Heber, rector of Hodnet and Bishop of Calcutta chairman, but since there were no offers to replace who wrote the hymn From Greenlands Icy her, she agreed to stand for another year on Mountains; E M Forster, whose Oniton of condition that a vice chairman be appointed with a Howard’s End was Clun; Sheena Porter, a view to taking over next year. There still being no children’s novelist who received the 1964 offers, the matter rested. With the exception of Carnegie Medal for her novel Nordy Bank which is Sheila Keenan all committee members were set on Brown Clee; Patrick Bront¸, who wrote two willing to serve a further term. There being no small volumes of poetry while a curate in nominations, the remaining members of the Wellington; the poet Wilfred Owen who was born committee were unanimously re-elected with in Oswestry; and last but not least, one of Gillian Pope being once again elected chairman. Shropshire’s most famous sons, Charles Darwin, Janet Doody was later co-opted onto the committee. author of On the Origin of the Species, who was born in Shrewsbury. The meeting was followed by a talk by John Challen, operations manager at Blists Hill and More information on these and other Shropshire writers is to be found in Gordon Dickins’ book An Coalport China Museum, on the making of Illustrated Literary Guide to Shropshire. Although wrought iron at Blists Hill. A report on this talk now out of print, there is a copy in Broseley Library, will appear in the February 2011 Newsletter. from which some of the detail above was taken. NEW PRESIDENTS At the AGM two new presidents of the Society, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Harold Grice and Norah Lane, were elected for a The Society’s AGM was held on 5 October when two year period. chairman Gillian Pope reported on another successful year which had seen a varied and Visitors to Blists Hill Victorian interesting programme of events. These had town will already know Harold included not only talks on topics of local interest as the man behind the steam but also a summer walk around the Broseley Jitties engine which runs along the and a trip to the Derwent Valley to visit the short length of track beyond the Cromford and Masson Mills of Richard Arkwright. canal. His interest in engines, Other Society activities had included the erection however, goes back much of more plaques around the town commemorating further than that when, having completed his well known local figures. schooling in Oakengates, he went to work at a small garage nearby as a motor mechanic. Some The chairman also reported that membership of the ten years later, and by now married, he moved to Society remained over 200, quite the largest of any Birmingham where his wife was working. Three local history society in the area, and thanked both the years in Birmingham, however, was as much as members and the committee for their continued Harold could stand and he and his wife moved support. She also expressed her gratitude to Steve back to Oakengates where he has lived ever since. Dewhirst for the enormous amount of time he puts in In 1960 he opened his own small garage in keeping the Society’s website updated and answering Wrockwardine Wood which he ran for the next 40 the large number of requests for information. years until his retirement. She then thanked the outgoing president, Cecily Harold says he has always liked joining things as Taylor, for her support during her term of office, it is a good opportunity to get out and meet people. reminding members that the other president, Ray Having been at one time a member of a scout Johnston, had sadly died earlier in the year. She group, a youth club and a caravan club, in 1985 he proposed that Harold Grice and Norah Lane be joined the Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge

4 there and was already working when, early in the war, she met the handsome RAF policeman who was to become her husband. This was around the time of the Bath Blitz which she clearly remembers. Fortunately neither she nor her family were injured, but a family friend was when he inadvertently rode his bicycle into a large bomb crater. When her husband was sent all over the country during his war service, Norah was often able to Harold Grice, newly elected president of the Society, working the steam engine at Blists Hill join him, working at various aircraft factories making, as she says, “things like nuts and bolts”. Museums and volunteered to help at Blists Hill. Later she worked in Cambridge at the Ministry of There he quickly got interested in their steam Further Education. engine, a replica of the prototype of the Richard Trevithick engine built by the Coalbrookdale After the end of the war, she and her husband company in 1802. This replica was built in 1990 returned to live in Bath where their daughter was by apprentices at GKN Sankey from the original born. It was only once she went to high school that plans now in the Science Museum. Asked why he Norah could think of following a career of her own got interested in running the steam engine he said, and so, as a mature student, she took a teacher well it was mechanical and working it was more training course at Newton Park College. interesting than standing behind a counter all day. Her teaching career lasted until her retirement in One thing led to another until he was driving not 1981 when, wanting to be nearer their daughter only the Blists Hill engine but steam rollers and who had left the rat race of London for Telford, she traction engines as well. suggested she and her husband move to be closer The next logical step was to volunteer to do some to her. Somewhat to her surprise, her Bath born guiding and for some time he was the leader of the and bred husband was happy to do so, which is museum guides as well as being a member of the how they came to settle in Broseley. Friends committee. He is also a trustee of the Her abiding passion, however, has always been her museum. As well as working the steam engine at music. She was a member of the prestigious Bath Blists Hill and doing some guiding there, he is a Bach Choir for many years and was privileged to guide at the Coalport China Museum. be part of that choir on two special occasions; one When asked how he came to join the Broseley when Kathleen Ferrier performed there and one Local History Society, he said that initially a friend when Ralph Vaughan Williams conducted his had persuaded him to go along saying he would Hundredth Psalm. Vaughan Williams was the first enjoy that evening’s talk. In fact, he said, he president of this Choir which was formed in 1946. enjoyed the talk so much that he carried on going It staged a series of Bach Festivals which were to so many subsequent meetings that he finally internationally acclaimed, drawing visitors from decided he had better join, a decision he has all over the world. Norah says that the Bach definitely never regretted. Festival should not be confused with the Bath Festival which was started later. Unlike Harold, Norah does not come from Shropshire but was Once settled in Broseley she and her husband born in Birmingham. When joined the now defunct Broseley Society where just a baby her family moved they both sat on the committee. Keen to carry on first to Liverpool and then, with her music, however, she also joined the when she was seven, to Bath. Shifnal and District Chorale and was one of the She completed her schooling group who sang The Sanctus at the unveiling of the

5 Meanwhile her interest in local history had been piqued by the evening classes run by Barrie Trinder, the well known Shropshire historian, in the mid 1970s. But it was not until 1996 that she decided to do something more positive with her life and enrolled at Wolverhampton University to read history. The talk which she gave to the Society in 2002 was based on her thesis in which she researched the Irish community of Broseley in the second half of the 19th century.1

Norah Lane, who has also been elected a president of the Since then Janet has been researching the lives Society, was one of the Shifnal and District Chorale group behind the names on local war memorials and the which sang at the unveiling of the John Wilkinson plaque at The Lawns in June 2008 results of her investigations into the Madeley and Jackfield memorials have already been published John Wilkinson plaque at The Lawns in Broseley by the Madeley Living History Project.2 in June 2008. She was also a member of the Broseley Singers though this group no longer exists. After that it was Broseley’s turn and in 2008 she shared with members the results of her latest Although she claims she has now given up singing, research.3 She says that her request for further she did admit she might be tempted out of information proved very helpful and the final retirement if given the opportunity to sing the results of her efforts are shortly to be published – Messiah. watch this space! It was only after her husband’s death some 10 years ago that Norah was able to get more involved Not one to sit around, Janet is now getting going in local activities. She is an active member of the on the war memorials in St George’s and Shifnal U3A and joins in their poetry, Shakespeare Oakengates. and garden history groups. It was also around this 1 See the May 2002 Newsletter for a short report on time that she joined the Society, saying that she this talk. very much enjoys the meetings and tries never to 2 Available as an A4 booklet free of charge from miss one. Madeley Parish Council, tel: 01952 567280 or email: [email protected]. NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER 3 See the November 2008 Newsletter The Society would like to welcome Janet Doody, who is BROSELEY’S SKELETONS UNEARTHED already known to members for A piece of Broseley history was unearthed recently her two talks to the Society, as a when several human skeletons were found during co-opted member of the building work on the £48,000 extension to the committee. Birchmeadow Centre in Birchmeadow Road. The Although Janet comes from Madeley, her mother remains were uncovered when a trench was being was born in Broseley and Janet knows the town dug to link up the drains from the new extension to well, having spent many a school holiday with her the main sewer. grandparents in Cape Fold. Work was stopped while Hugh Hannaford, On leaving school she briefly worked for Telford Shropshire Council’s community archaeologist, Development Corporation before joining the excavated part of what was once the burial ground Britannia Building Society in Wellington where at this former Baptist Chapel. The remains of four she worked for many years. Her next move was to skeletons, thought to be anything up to 200 years join the Ironbridge Gorge Museums where she old, were found buried almost on top of one worked as an exhibit demonstrator at Blists Hill. another and, according to Mr Hannaford, might

6 well have been from the same family – or IN MEMORIAM conversely paupers who had been buried in a Seen recently at a Broseley communal grave. He said that one was obviously Flower Society exhibition a child of about six years old, one was about 10 this arrangement was in years old and the others were adults. memory of Private Percy Acton Dixon, The King’s The Chapel, which ceased to be a place of worship (Liverpool Regiment), who in the early part of the last century, has since had was killed in action in several uses, being among other things a cinema 1918. Entered by Society and a night club. In 1995 it was bought by the then chairman Gillian Pope the Broseley Parish Council for use as a community arrangement was awarded Best in Show. Private centre and renamed the Birchmeadow Centre. Dixon, who was born in Broseley, was cousin to The Chapel was built in 1803 as a result of a split Gillian’s father John Dixon. The display also among the worshippers at the existing Baptist included two books awarded to him inscribed with Chapel in Chapel Lane. With the help of John his name Percy Acton Dixon. His is one of the Guest of Guest’s Iron Foundry, and George names appearing on the War Memorial in Crompton, a draper, they built this rival Chapel on Broseley’s Memorial Garden. the Birchmeadow. Both John Guest and John Onions, another Broseley ironmaster, were buried SEVERN GORGE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST in its graveyard. The Severn Gorge Countryside Trust (SGCT) recently held an open day at their new centre in Once Shropshire Council has returned the remains Darby Road, Coalbrookdale, when visitors were to Broseley, and the necessary permission has been taken on a tour of the eco-friendly building. This obtained, they will be suitably reinterred. has been constructed using local timber and The graveyard has several vaults beneath it and sheeps’ wool insulation. some of Broseley’s more senior residents recall The Trust was established in 1991 to manage more playing in them as children. than 270 hectares of land and in 2006 it started a Then and now. The old Baptist Chapel in Birchmeadow was built in 1803. Renamed the Birchmeadow Centre, it is now a volunteering programme to involve local people in community centre. Inset: This handle from a coffin was which year round activities include tree planting, among the finds during the recent excavations hedge laying, ecological surveying and the repairing of steps. Last year it took on the Telford Access to Nature project, funded by the Access to Nature grant programme. As a result many local people have enjoyed joining in outdoor activities and have learnt such traditional skills as hedge laying and coppicing. They have also improved footpaths and built wooden steps in Dale Coppice, while a new all ability path across Rough Park has recently been opened. Future activities will see V stiles replaced by kissing gates and the installation of boardwalks and benches, while information panels, circular routes and leaflets will help people explore the heritage and wildlife of the area. Anyone interested in learning more about this project should contact Cadi Price on tel: 01952 433880 or visit www.severngorge.org.uk.

7 WHAT’S ON? are said to have been the inspiration behind today’s Coalport China Museum modern Olympic Games. 21 – 25 February 2011 For further information on these and other Drop in ceramic decoration workshops themed activities, contact the IGMT on tel: 01952 884391 around the Chinese New Year. For further details or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. call 01952 884391 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk.

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust MAILBOX World Heritage Site 25th Anniversary The Society has received this April 2011 – November 2011 photograph from Bridgnorth Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Northgate Museum; it is Ironbridge Gorge being declared a World Heritage captioned Broseley Town Crier Site. To mark the occasion an exhibition, 1979. If anyone can remember a consisting of a range of historic images of the town crier in Broseley at that time, region, will take place in the Footprint Gallery at or recognise the gentleman in Jackfield Tile Museum from mid-April 2011 to question, please contact Janet Robinson on 01952 mid-November 2011. 882495 or email [email protected]. Science, Sport, Life Festival The 1851 census shows there was a Francis and April 2011 – July 2012 Eliza Hartshorne living at 141 Queen Street, As part of the West Midlands’ Cultural Olympiad, Broseley; Francis was a confectioner. Could anyone the IGMT will be hosting a series of events in the tell me which would have been no 141 as I know a run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. The lot of houses were knocked down at some stage. Science, Sport, Life Festival will run from April Melinda Evans 2011 – July 2012 and will include activities at Blists [email protected] Hill Victorian Town, Enginuity and Coalbrookdale Gallery. Additional events will also take place Have a look at the tithe map and apportionment on during the 2011 Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend our website http://www.broseley.org.uk/tithe.htm 23-24 July. as there were a number of Hartshornes on Queen The main focus will be the Science of Sport Street at plots 270 and 299. These are probably exhibition at Enginuity. This will use the relatives. There was also a Francis Hartshorne at Museum’s collections to demonstrate the science plot 846 which was a small house near the Deep behind modern, high performance sports. Running Pit off Cockshutt Lane. A report in the Wellington from April 2011 to the end of February 2012, a Journal states that on 13 February 1897 a Francis highlight will be the Olympic gold medal winning Hartshorne was buried in the graveyard at the Old eight rowing boat from the Henley River & Baptist Chapel. He was 73 years of age at the time Rowing Museum. of his death and had carried on the business of a confectioner for a number of years. The Coalbrookdale Gallery will stage Sporting Steve Dewhirst Life, a display of images ranging from football teams to coracle racing. It will also include such Someone else interested in Francis Hartshorne sporting heroes as Captain Webb, the first man to is his great great great granddaughter Kim Turner. swim the English Channel, and football legend Kim writes: Billy Wright. This exhibition will be open from I have just found an extract from the Wellington April 2011 until the end of July 2012. Journal dated 1897 reporting my great great great Blists Hill Victorian Town will stage its own grandfather’s funeral. I should like to say how period version of the world famous Community fantastic I have found the Broseley Local History Games. These were started in 1850 by the Much Society website; I feel I am really getting to know Wenlock surgeon, Dr William Penny Brookes, and Broseley and its history even before I visit. Please

8 pass on my heartfelt thanks to those responsible for I am interested in finding out more about putting together such a wealth of information and William Higginson York, born about 1852 in making it so accessible. Madeley, Shropshire. His father was James York Kim Turner and his mother was Mary Higginson. William was [email protected] brought up by the Yorks and, according to Joan Griffiths’ Poaching in the Gorge, was sentenced to I have just found the Broseley Local History 6 years’ penal servitude in 1898 with William website and all those wonderful transcriptions of Owen, for ‘unlawfully and maliciously’ wounding the parish registers up to 1750. Are there any Alfred Bowen, the constable who caught them transcribed records of the early 1800s at Broseley? poaching. He was entered on the 1861 and 1871 I am looking for my great great grandfather John censuses as Higginson but his grandson called Harris, who was born about 1800, and who gave himself Freddie York. Broseley as his birthplace. Christopher Higginson Diana Southern [email protected] [email protected] You might try having a look at the cuttings The best places to contact are Shropshire Family from the Wellington Journal where you will History Society and Shropshire Archives. There find references to the York(e) family, are links on the website. http://www.broseley.org.uk/cuttings.html. Steve Dewhirst Steve Dewhirst

I recently found this photograph which belongs My ancestor Edward Colley, who is described to my father John Roberts. Can anyone tell me as an iron moulder, was working in Broseley in what was the occasion for the parade and when it 1790-1800. His son and two daughters, however, were born in Paris from 1821. I wonder what he might have been taken? My family are Broseley was doing in France, since I assume he would have born and bred and for years ran Roberts Brothers gone as a result of work ordered from one of the Garage in the High Street. My father and his Broseley foundries. I am fascinated to learn how cousin Tom were partners in the business. an iron worker might have ended up in France at Judith Roberts that time. [email protected] Val Whiteman This photograph was taken from the window of 81 [email protected] High Street, Broseley, probably during the 1950s, It is difficult to explain why they ended up in by John Dixon, a local businessman. It is captioned Paris. The only link I know of with Paris is that the Mayor’s Parade (or Mayor’s Sunday); Mr and John Wilkinson supplied iron water pipes from his Mrs Wedge were Mayor and Mayoress of the foundry at Willey for the Paris Water Works Wenlock Borough (which included Broseley) at the around 1780. Wilkinson’s brother William moved time. I think it was to France in 1777 and returned just before the formerly called French Revolution, probably in 1789. I do not Hospital Sunday as a know of any direct link but it is possible that the report from the Coalbrookdale Company or one of John Onions’ Wellington Journal in works were supplying cast iron goods to France. 1938 indicates that Steve Dewhirst this was an annual event at which money I am tracing my family tree and have got back was collected for to 1800. I am now stuck trying to find my latest various hospitals in set of parents, for whom I have names but as yet no the county. dates for their births or marriage. According to the Steve Dewhirst census my family came from Salthouses, Jackfield.

9 Is there anywhere in Broseley which still has My Watkiss ancestors lived in Broseley in the birth/marriage/death records? What about church late 1600s. A Thomas Watkis (sic) is shown as records or gravestones? being a churchwarden on the first page of the Clive Doughty Broseley Parish register. He was a ground collier [email protected] and had seven children all baptised in St Leonard’s Church, Broseley between 1638 and 1652. He Doughty is a well known name from Jackfield. They himself was buried there in 1683. I do have a copy seem to have been mainly involved in trade on the of his will and inventory but I cannot find any river. For records before 1800 you could go to mention of the area where he lived. Shropshire Archives which should have the parish records. Most of the gravestones in Broseley I do enjoy the Newsletters and wish your Society Churchyard were cleared in the 1960s and I do not good luck with all its projects. think there are any church records other than the Sheila Jelley parish records. It would also be worth contacting [email protected] the Shropshire Family History Society. Thomas would have been the churchwarden at Steve Dewhirst St Leonard’s, Broseley. The parish church was known as St Leonard’s until 1845 when it was Can anyone give me any information on Barry rebuilt. For some reason the new church was Leake whom I knew back in 1962? At that time he named All Saints’ Church. You could look at the was a young sailor who lived at 49 Church Street, Victoria County History for St Leonard’s, Broseley Broseley. After I emigrated to the US we http://www.british- corresponded for some time but I have long since history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22876#s17. lost touch with him, although I should now like to Steve Dewhirst make contact again. Toni Byrnes I knew that several of my ancestors were born 323 375 9835 in Broseley but was overwhelmed on a recent visit [email protected] there when I saw the name of John Onions on a Further research has thrown up more Broseley commemorative plaque on White Hall in Church connections than I previously thought I had, one of Street. John Onions (1745-1819) was first cousin whom lived at a property listed as Town’s End. to my great great great great great grandfather The 1841 census lists the properties in the area as Peter Onions (1724-1798). Peter was married to Dunge Cottage, Forester’s Arms, Town’s End and Elizabeth Guest, sister of John Guest, all born in Onion’s Brick Works. Does anyone know where Broseley but later moved to Merthyr Tydfil, exactly this is? Glamorgan, where Peter Onions patented his Glyn Bowend process for puddling iron and his brother in law [email protected] founded what we now know as GKN Sankey. I had not heard of Town’s End before but I can guess Another plaque in Church Street showed the name where it was. If you have a look at the tithe map of Hartshorne. This family was also linked to the http://www.broseley.org.uk/TitheMap/Broseley%2 Onions family by marriage. I see from your May 0Tithe%20Map%2017.jpg I think plot 900 could 2010 Newsletter that a further plaque is planned be one; the other two would be 903 on for what was once the Baptist Chapel (now the http://www.broseley.org.uk/TitheMap/Broseley%2 Birchmeadow Centre) which was partially funded 0Tithe%20Map%2018.jpg. The Forester’s Arms by John Onions. still exists, although it is now a Thai restaurant, Do you have a list of all the Commemorative and is situated on the Ironbridge to Bridgnorth plaques in Broseley (especially any that refer to the Road. Onions or Guest families)? I have found quite a lot Steve Dewhirst of information about John Guest, John and Peter

10 Onions but would be interested in anything further I am researching the Stephan and Cullis about these families. I also found a memorial families of Broseley. I know that my ancestor plaque in the church to William Onions (1755- George Stephan ran the General Gordon Inn with 1825) (son of Peter) but have been unable to find his grandfather Thomas Beard. However, the any information about his role in Broseley. census records of 1881 and 1891 have them Adrian Green travelling on the barge William and I believe that [email protected] Thomas was the last of the Severn bargemen to die. Any further information would be appreciated. We do not have any further plaques regarding the Penny Stephan Onions or Guest families. In addition to those you [email protected] have seen we have erected these others: John Wilkinson, the ironmaster; George Pritchard, I suggest you obtain a copy of Barges and solicitor, banker and philanthropist; John Bargemen by Barrie Trinder as this has various Randall, historian, geologist and china painter; references to the Beard family. Victoria Hall community centre. Steve Dewhirst Editor I am trying to find out more information about my grandfather’s brother John Havelin. He is Thank you for the photograph of the possible listed in the 1881 census as being 18 years old, house of William Guest. I am very interested in born in Belfast, but lodging at Barratt’s Hill, the history of the Guests and wonder if you know Broseley. He is described as an ordnance of the location of houses of earlier Guests. I think surveyor, which possibly means that there was they may have been farmers. map making going on in the area at the time. He Robyn later emigrated to America and spent the rest of his Australia life there. I am interested to know more about this [email protected] area and if Barratt’s Hill itself is still there. I have also heard that the Guests were farmers but Harry Havelin exactly where I do not know. We do have one [email protected] document from 1857 when Josiah John Guest This picture of Barratt’s Hill was probably taken bought a house and garden previously belonging in the early 20th century. It has not changed much to John Guest, the ironmaster and his father. This since then. Have a look at these two websites was on King Street, Broseley Wood, one of the http://www.broseley.org.uk/Tour/Barratts%20Hill.htm, plots labelled 288 and 289 on the tithe map http://www.broseley.org.uk/pope/Barratts%20Hill http://www.broseley.org.uk/TitheMap/Broseley%2 %20F21.jpg. Barratt’s Hill is on the outskirts of 0Tithe%20Map%2003.jpg. Unfortunately the Broseley on the road to Much Wenlock. house has been demolished, but I believe it was the Steve Dewhirst one shown on the photograph below, on the left hand side behind the gentleman with the cap. Barratt’s Hill in the early Steve Dewhirst 20th century and the same view today. The large building on the right in the early photograph has now been replaced with new build, but otherwise the houses are substantially the same

11 I am looking for information on my Broseley railway line between Ironbridge and Coalport ancestors dating back to the early 1800s. Sarah stations. The train driver was unable to stop the Batho (formerly Richards) married John Batho and train in time and the man was killed. At the they lived in Maypole House in Broseley. Sarah subsequent inquest the jury returned the verdict had three children from her previous marriage, that the deceased had “committed suicide while in Emma Richards born 1835, Will Richards born a state of temporary insanity”. 1836 and John Richards born 1840. John married Steve Dewhirst Ann and their son was my great great grandfather. I know that John worked as a horse driver and Will I am looking for information on various of my as a coal miner, but are there any records to back ancestors in the Broseley, Madeley, Ironbridge and this up? Also are there any photographs or map Bridgnorth areas. One of them was Thomas Parker references for Maypole House? Apparently Sarah Poole who was the town crier in Ironbridge in Batho remarried, but would there be any record of the 1851 census. He married Isabella Glazebrook the name of the first husband and father to the three in Wellington in 1806. Her brother James children? Glazebrook married Frances Golding in 1799 in Ian Morgan Madeley. Their daughter Harriet Glazebrook was [email protected] born in 1800 and she married Joseph Davies in 1825. I assume your information comes from the 1851 Thomas Parker Poole’s father John died about census. Maypole House is probably the house in 1790 and his widow Mary married John Bathurst. the photograph, grid ref SJ67224 02681. The This line married into the Lloyds who owned Richards children were all born in Willey, but I Benthall Potteries. can see no trace of them on the 1841 census of Other names I am interested in are Palmer, Parker, Willey. Have you managed to trace them on the Hartshorne, Stormont, Tomlins, Williams and 1841 census, if so do you know where they were Sandlands. living? Presumably by this time the father had died. If so it should be in the Births, Marriages & Information on any of these families would be Deaths (BMD) from 1840-1841 in the Madeley much appreciated. district of Shropshire. You could also try the Richard Poole Shropshire Family History Society. New Zealand [email protected] John Batho seems to have come to a sad end. A report in the Wellington Journal of 14 February My cousin and I from Western Canada recently 1880 tells of a man lying with his head on the visited Shropshire looking for records of our Maypole House, on the corner of Woodlands Road and ancestors from Broseley/Coalbrookdale. Jeremiah Crew’s Park Jitty, Broseley Wood, was at one time a pub but Jones (blacksmith) and Sarah Gough were both is now a private residence born in Broseley in the 1820s. Their eldest child, also Jeremiah, was born in Broseley in 1854 and moved to Birmingham about 1872 to find work as an iron founder. He married Geneva Maria Parkes and they had seven children of which the eldest William Arthur, born 1876, was our grandfather. He emigrated to Alberta in 1904 where the family still live. Jeremiah and Sarah’s parents were, respectively, Richard Jones, born 1780, and Hannah Reynolds, who were married in 1809, and Benjamin Gough, born 1781, and Mary Roper. The census records

12 show Richard Jones as a cooper and Benjamin that this daughter was the first woman to go to Gough as a miner. London to study art in one of the big colleges. We found records in Holy Trinity Church in I should appreciate any further information, in Coalbrookdale showing Jeremiah and Sarah’s particular the name of the daughter. burials as being in 1888 and 1896 respectively, but Dean While should appreciate any help from anyone knowing [email protected] where their parents were buried. The rector of Willey in 1900 would have been the Richard died in 1855 and Hannah in 1865, their Rev’d William Henry Wayne, B A (Cantab). From address being registered as King Street. Both the 1891 census he appears to have had two Benjamin and Mary died in 1865 in Broseley, their daughters Mary G born around 1859 and Lillian address was listed as Hockley. G born around 1864. They were both shown as Shirley Runte spinsters in 1901. They seem to have been ladies [email protected] of leisure and no occupation is shown on any census. Steve Dewhirst Mrs White is researching her family history. She believes that her great grandfather, William I am currently researching a mug which has a Samuels, married a Jane Cadman in Broseley painting on it of what seems to be a watermill. The Church but would like to find out more. She thinks mug is dated 1787 and bears the name Samuel that they lived at The Lodge in Dark Lane, Bateman. I am assuming that the mill is in Broseley. Anyone who can help may contact her Shropshire as it appears to be a Caughley mug, through the Society’s email address although this is not certain. I should appreciate [email protected]. hearing from anyone who may be able to identify this watermill. Some years ago my father in law obtained a Kate Cadman number of paintings which he was told were [email protected] painted by the daughter of the vicar of Willey This mug, which is almost 4 inches high, bears a painting of Church in Shropshire. I think his name was Wayne a watermill and appears to be Caughley china and he may have been vicar around 1900. I believe

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chairman Gillian Pope Secretary Dot Cox Treasurer Jim Cooper Curator David Lake Membership Janet Robinson Secretary 26 Coalport Road Newsletter is sympathetic to the concerns of Broseley certain of its correspondents who are reluctant to TF12 5AZ see their email address appear in the public 01952 882495 domain. If there is anyone who does not wish Programme Secretary Neil Clarke their contact details to be published, they are and Journal Editor welcome to make use of the Society’s email Newsletter Editor Jan Lancaster address [email protected]. Any respondent Publicity Michael Pope without access to email may pass on information Richard Sells to any member of the committee. Janet Doody Website www.broseley.org.uk To see this Newsletter in full colour visit Email [email protected] this website at www.broseley.org.uk.

13 Newsletter

would like to thank all those people who have contributed to this publication during 2010 and wishes both them and all its readers a

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Published by Broseley Local History Society Printed by Madeley Print Shop 14 CHRISTMAS DINNER, THE LION, HIGH STREET, 1 DECEMBER 2010

Please reserve me _____ place/s for the Society’s Christmas Dinner at a cost of £17.95 a head

Name/s:______I enclose cheque/postal order for

Add: ______£ ______payable to

______Broseley Local History Society

______Please return to Janet Robinson, 26 Coalport Road Tel: ______Broseley, TF12 5AZ by Friday 26 November

Please indicate your choice of starter and main course from the menu below, giving one tick for each person

STARTER MAIN COURSE

Cream of country vegetable soup Roast turkey with sausage and bacon rolls, stuffing and cranberry sauce

Garlic mushrooms Roast topside of beef with yorkshire pudding

Chicken liver and herb pâté with cognac and Fillet of salmon with a cranberry, port and cream orange glaze

Seasonal melon with fresh fruit Pan fried duckling fillet with a gooseberry and cider sauce

King prawn cocktail Chicken breast wrapped in bacon in a blue cheese and brandy sauce

Goat’s cheese bruschetta Winter vegetable risotto

Mushroom stroganoff

Nut roast

All served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes

Choice of desserts or Christmas pudding

Tea/coffee and mince pies

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